Doklam standoff may prolong

Guwahati: Despite the ongoing negotiations, the standoff between India and China in Doklam may prolong. With the PLA setting up facilities near the standoff point, security sources said China was preparing to prolong its soldiers’ stay.

Despite the ongoing negotiations through diplomatic and other channels, the standoff between India and China in Doklam may push further.

Pointing out that Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) have set up tents and other facilities near the standoff point, security sources said that the Chinese Army seems to have been preparing to prolong their stay.

Informing the situation was under control, sources said the Indian Army is also equally prepared to stay in the area with the Bhutanese Army.

Sources said the Indian and the Bhutanese Armies are operating together to prevent any incursion by the PLA.

Sources said the security forces have not noticed any major movement of troops on the other side. They added India has not moved additional forces in the area as reported in a section of the Indian media.

“India had pushed in additional troops to locations closer to the trijunction in Doklam area initially to meet any eventuality, but later on a status quo on the deployment of forces was maintained by the either side,” sources said.

About the activities of the Chinese Army, sources said, “The PLA has set up tents about 200 to 300 metres away from the standoff point. For their convenience, the PLA decided to pitch their tents a little away from the standoff point.”

They said it would be wrong to say that the Chinese troops retreated from the standoff point, in fact they chose relatively a plain area to set up camps instead of doing it on a hilly terrain.

Sources keeping a close watch on the standoff in Doklam said the Chinese troops have not constructed permanent bunkers, and the road construction has also stopped. The Chinese troops are only staying in the tents.

Sources said the action of the Indian side is only preventive, and not the troop mobilisation. In high altitude, the troops can face acclimatisation problem and can make it difficult for troops to operate. “That is why India is pushing additional troops closer to Doklam so they can acclimatise to operate in that area.”